Alert on Copyright and Healthcare Lobbying Efforts

Every photographer needs to be aware of two events that are occurring on Capitol Hill next week.

On
Wednesday, March 8 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m., Professional Photographers
of America will testify before the House Intellectual Property
Subcommittee. PPA CEO David Trust will be speaking out against a recent
Copyright Office proposal on "orphan works" that would destroy the
value of thousands of professional images if Congress adopts the
legislation without making significant changes.

On
Wednesday, March 8 at 10:00 a.m., one of PPA's lobbying teams will be
attend the hearing addressing the Senate Health Committee mark-up and
vote on S. 1955, the Health Insurance Marketplace Modernization Act.
This legislation would allow photographers and other independent
business owners to band together across state lines to purchase health
insurance.

For years, PPA and other associations have been
able to secure passage of similar legislation in the House, only to see
it die in the Senate. Wednesday's committee mark-up and vote on S. 1955
represents our best opportunity to move this bill out of committee and
to have it considered by the full Senate.

In addition to
having lobbyists at the hearing, PPA will also be sending a separate
e-mail notice to members in the 19 states represented on the Health,
Education, Labor and Pensions Committee asking them to contact that
particular senator in support of this legislation.